Off contract Inter Milan defender Ze Maria is being linked with Middlesbrough.
The left-sided wing-back is available from Inter and has been linked with several foreign clubs, including Boro. The Brazilian declared over the weekend that he hopes to find a new club this week.

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is keeping tabs on Darius Vassell's situation at Manchester City.
Birmingham have been linked with a £1 million offer in January for the England international, but they are likely to face competition from Boro for the striker.

Middlesbrough striker Malcolm Christie is currently training with the Tigers, as revealed yesterday by KCFM.

The striker linked up with the Tigers yesterday as he looks to impress City manager Phil Brown. However, if Christie was to become a full-time player with Hull City, it would almost certainly pave the way for either Stephen McPhee or Michael Bridges to leave the club.

Bridges and McPhee have both fallen down the pecking order following the arrival of Caleb Folan from Wigan Athletic and with the news of Nick Barmby returning from injury and the potential signing of Malcolm Christie, both players may find themselves in the KC wilderness.

Twenty-eight year old Christie is training with Hull City for the next two weeks during which time he hopes to earn a deal with the Tigers. The former England U21 international has been hampered with injures during his career but providing the striker can prove his fitness, Christie would be a terrific addition for any Championship side, and especially, Hull City.

Hull manager Phil Brown is set to launch a second bid for Middlesbrough defender Andrew Davies after watching his initial one million pound bid be rejected.

The Middlesbrough defender was a summer target for Brown but due to injuries at the Riverside, Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate had to reject Brown`s approach as he had no other defensive cover than the England Under 21 international.

However, with Middlesbrough`s situation now in a healthier position, Brown is believed to have launched a second attempt to bring the defender to the KC Stadium, this time on a loan basis with the possibility of a permanent move when the transfer window re-opens in January.

It is believed Brown would want the defender to fill the right-back role with Welsh international Sam Ricketts moving to the troublesome left-back position. However, any deal may depend on what fee Middlesbrough would want for the highly rated defender with a bid in the region of around one million pounds rumoured to be Middlesbrough`s asking price.

Brown was believed to have made an enquiry this past week meaning that he should have had a response by Saturday`s important Championship encounter with Stoke City. The Tigers reserves are playing today in hope of starting against Stoke City as they take on Scunthorpe`s reserve side in a match that will give City fans the first glimpse of Jay Jay Okocha.